A West Australian mother, who was convicted of neglecting her teenage daughter by allowing her to become dangerously thin, believes her trial was unfair. The 48-year-old Floreat woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was sentenced to five years in prison in the WA District Court in January. The bizarre case made headlines last year when she and her husband took the matter to trial, claiming the girl was healthy despite concerns raised by ballet teachers and the state Department of Communities. The teenage girl had the appearance of an 11-year-old, suffered hair loss, and had a dangerously low body weight. The couple refused to get the girl medically assessed, and the father was also found guilty of forging a birth certificate that made the girl appear to be years younger than she was. The mother believes she was not given a fair trial because she fell ill part way through and has unsuccessfully argued to be released from prison pending the outcome of an appeal. The woman was ultimately denied bail. In his decision, Supreme Court Justice Robert Mazza wrote that he did not believe continuing the woman's trial during a period of sickness was a reason the appeal would likely be upheld - and nor should it constitute her immediate release from prison. A doctor's note was handed to the judge during the trial claiming the woman was suffering from a gastro-type illness that was either food poisoning or a contagious stomach bug after she failed to appear in court during proceedings. The couple's appeal hearing is not expected to be held until March next year.
